Pastor's Blog

Bobby Jack was sitting in a chair yesterday morning when I visited with him.  I expect that he either was moved from CCU yesterday afternoon or that will happen today.  Keep praying. 

They found no blockages or any other problems with Miss Betty Arnold’s heart.  That is a good thing but it doesn’t explain why she has been having some of the difficulties she has been experiencing. 

Phase One of the CAB renovation has officially begun as thirteen men showed up last night to get three rooms ready for the sheetrock work.  They started at 6:00PM and were out the door at 7:00PM.  I thank God for folks with a mind to work. 

The TOF takes place tomorrow night and I want to encourage the members of the Friendship family to support our students.  It begins at 5:00PM in the CAB and the cost is $10 per person. 

I need to hear from the members of the Friendship family who signed up for the June ’10 GRACE trip.  Please contact me by this Sunday, 3/7. 

Also, any member of the Friendship family wishing to take part in the November 15 – 22, 2010 or January 29 – February 5, 2011 GRACE trips needs to sign up by Sunday, 3/14. 

I hope to see many members of the Friendship family in our services this Sunday morning & evening.  I pray that you will have a great weekend with Jesus!

Bobby Jack Felps & Herbert Benefield did well through their respective surgeries yesterday.  Bobby had a double by-pass and is recovering in the CCU.  I am not sure if Herbert spent the night in the hospital or not. 

Betty Arnold is having a heart cath done this morning.  Pray that she will get a good report. 

Gage Hudson, Pattie Suthoff’s grandson, does have a tumor.  They are meeting with another doctor today. 

Susan Blackmon Quinn, Edwin & Eula Mae’s oldest daughter, has been diagnosed with a malignant tumor in her chest cavity.  She will have surgery next Friday, 3/12, in Greenville, SC.  Pray for Susan. 

Keep praying for Carla Kyser, Miss Joyce Bosarge, Courtney Hubbard and the others who are battling cancer. 

The Friendship family unanimously approved “phase one” of the CAB renovation and that work will begin tonight, 3/4, at 6:00PM.  We will basically be removing the paneling in three of the rooms upstairs.  Pass the word and come join us!  (I fully expect Joe David Bailey and Jason Bowling to show up since they love physical labor so much!)

Dr. Rex, you are on the list.  Thanks! 

I pray that you will have a great Thursday with Jesus!

Bobby Jack Felps will have open heart surgery today which will involve 2, 3, or 4 by-passes.  Pray for the him, the doctors, and Bobby’s family.

Herbert Benefield is having surgery this morning too.  Pray for Herbert, the doctors, and Herbert’s family too.

Nanette Fontenot updated me on Jayne English’s situation.  Apparently, the insurance company is not willing to pay for her to be in another hospital but will pay for her to be moved to a convalescent home.  However, she needs to be in a facility where they can do therapy, rehab, et cetera  to give her the chance to improve.  Pray as they try to work through this and get the best care available for Jayne. 

Miss Merle Phillips was discharged from the hospital this past Sunday afternoon.  Her family is staying with her 24/7 and she remains weak.  Keep praying for Miss Merle and her family.

Pattie Suthoff’s grandson, Gage Hudson, as he had a MRI done yesterday.  He has been having balance issues and slurred speech.  The family expects to hear from their primary care doctor this morning.  Pray for Gage and his family. 

Keep praying for those who are battling cancer especially for Carla as she battles the sores in her mouth.  Courtney Hubbard is back in Houston and will resume treatments on 3/24.  She didn’t get a “clean” bill of health from her surgery but did get the next best thing. 

Our renovation committee shares the plans for the first phase of the renovation today/tonight; we need everyone to attend the TOF this Saturday night in the CAB from 5:00 – 7:00PM; we need desserts for Friday (3/12) night’s supper (ask Bro. Jerry for specifics); we need pound cakes (5 of them) for Saturday (3/13); and we need many volunteers for the work day on 3/20. 

Any member of the Friendship family wishing to take part in either the November ’10 or February ’11 GRACE trip needs to contact me immediately. 

Normal Wednesday for the Friendship family with the morning service and evening activities.  I pray that your day will be blessed!

I really can’t explain it but I must have been in a fog when I wrote yesterday’s entry as I forgot to mention the two salvations from Sunday morning’s services.  Praise the Lamb of God for providing salvation to Cameron & Westley.  Hallelujah!

I heard through the grapevine that Bobby Jack Felps is having a heart cath this morning.  Pray for him.  I really don’t have any other updates as my yesterday was consumed with meetings and other things that kept me in the office until late yesterday afternoon.  (I am trying to get on Joe David’s list of hardest working pastors) 

As I expected, the Friendship family responded well to the need for host homes for the MBI Chorale.  We only have three or four homes hosting four members of the Chorale with all of the others hosting two.  Thank you for being so gracious! 

Here is what we need now – desserts for the meal on Friday afternoon and five “pound cakes” for Saturday morning.  You can sign up tomorrow morning/evening or this Sunday, 3/7. 

Just found out yesterday that our student ministry has about twenty 2010 Scripture calendars for sale at $3 each.  First come, first served.  These are great calendars with beautiful photos.  They will be available tomorrow & Sunday.

The TOF takes place this Saturday, 3/6, from 5:00 – 7:00PM in the CAB.  Advance tickets are $10 each.  If you wait and buy them at the door, they will cost you $10 each so it is best to purchase them in advance.  Great food and even greater fellowship! 

As we “March to Easter” we need to put action to our commitments from this past Sunday night.  It is one thing to tell a staff member that you will support them but a whole different thing to actually do something. 

Our CAB renovation committee will share the first phase of this project in tomorrow services and asking the church to approve it.  I appreciate the work of Tony Hacker, chairman, and the whole committee. 

Al Gore wrote an op-ed for a New York paper this past weekend and stated that the unusually cold weather with the massive snow fall simply proves that global warming is indeed taking place.  The GW is causing more moisture to be in the air which leads to more snow.  So, there you have it! 

I pray that you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus.

This entry is late and I apologize for my tardiness in this area.  We had a blessed day yesterday in our services.  God is so good and I thank Him for being so faithful to our church family and me. 

Steve Morris is home.  Miss Merle Phillips remains hospitalized.  Carla Kyser has sores in her mouth caused by the chemo treatment.  Miss Betty Arnold will have a heart cath done on Thursday of this week.  Miss Joyce Bosarge continues to battle her cancer.  David & Vera Bosarge’s neighbor has made some improvement but still needs our prayers. 

We had a nice response to the housing request last night.  I will update our total tomorrow.  Please know that these are not high school students.  They are young adults in college.  All we need is for them to have a place to sleep as the church will furnish the meals.  Members of the Friendship family are asked to call the church office if you will house at least 2.  By the way, we have to stay on an even number per their housing assignments. 

Congratulations to Tim Mast & the men’s hockey team from Canada for winning the gold medal yesterday as they defeated the USA team.  Some thought this would be a repeat of 1980 for the USA but it wouldn’t have been close.  Every player in yesterday’s game plays in the NHL.  The 1980 USA team was a bunch of young men playing against professionals.  In the mid-80’s the powers that be decided to open the WO to professionals so the world could see the “best” athletes.  Tranlated – $$$!  In my opinion, the games lost some (most?) of their luster at that point.  Honestly, I didn’t watch 15 minutes of the entire Olympics. 

I pray that you will have a great Monday with Jesus.